The next morning came in the blink of an eye.
I was buzzing to get to school, though Egg threw a bit of a clingy fit. He didn't want to let me go, but Dad managed to pry him off and cart him to work with him instead.
He'd always wanted to do that. I didn't miss the small smirk of victory on his face. He was going to be smug all day—and his staff would have an easier day too.
Baby.
My whole body felt like a taut string, stretched too tight, vibrating beneath my skin.
I waved off the driver. He deserved the day off.
Besides...
I needed the control.
So I drove.
Half an hour later, I was walking towards the lecture hall when a notification popped onto my phone.
Pre-final year mandatory clearance.
Everyone had been assigned different dates.
Mine fell on the 25th.
Baby's did too.
Coincidence?
I smiled.
"Fir!"
I barely had time to react before Jesse threw himself against me the moment I stepped into the hall.
Damn.
I would've fallen if he weren't so light.
Or maybe I was just stronger now.
Either way—
I needed him off me.
Immediately.
His arm was around my shoulders.
His hand against my back.
My skin crawled.
Shit.
I was already pulling him away when I looked up.
There she was.
My baby.
She was looking this way.
But...
Not at me.
Her gaze rested on Jesse.
What the hell?
For one irrational second, I wanted to punch him.
Then I followed her eyes properly.
She wasn't looking at Jesse.
She was looking at where he was touching me.
...
I knew that look.
I'd worn it myself.
The day Meth tried speaking to her.
Jealous.
Baby was jealous.
She had to be.
I gently but firmly peeled Jesse's arm off me.
Only then did her eyes finally lift to mine.
Something flashed there.
Approval.
It hit me like sunlight.
Yesterday...
She came looking for me.
She worried.
Today...
She's jealous.
My chest felt impossibly light.
I held her gaze, trying to ask a thousand questions without saying a word.
Did you really come?
Were you worried?
Was it because of me?
She looked away first.
For a split second, disappointment pricked at me.
Then I saw it.
The faint bloom of pink spreading across her cheeks.
God.
She was beautiful.
She was blushing.
Baby.
My baby.
Koe-chan.